The records can be located in the county where the birth occurred or the county of residence in the state when the individual applied for the delayed birth record. Some delayed birth records can also be found at [http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/databases/home.html Illinois Regional Archives Depository System (IRAD)] depositories and the [[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|Family History Library (FHL)]].

The records can be located in the county where the birth occurred or the county of residence in the state when the individual applied for the delayed birth record. Some delayed birth records can also be found at [http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/databases/home.html Illinois Regional Archives Depository System (IRAD)] depositories and the [[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|Family History Library (FHL)]].

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To see a coverage map of FamilySearch's holdings of Illinois county birth records, click [http://user.xmission.com/~jsvare/FR/IL_FRB.html here].

=== Marriage Records ===

=== Marriage Records ===

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When an Illinois '''eloping''' couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places like [[Lake County, Indiana Genealogy|Crown Point, IN]], or [[St. Joseph County, Indiana Genealogy|South Bend, IN]], or [[Vanderburgh County, Indiana Genealogy|Evansville, IN]], or [[Lee County, Iowa]].<ref name="Eakle1">Arlene H. Eakle, "Have you searched and searched for a marriage without finding it?" in ''Genealogy Blog'' at [http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/have-you-searched-and-searched-for-the-marriage-without-finding-it/ http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/have-you-searched-and-searched-for-the-marriage-without-finding-it/] accessed 8 January 2011).</ref> Also check counties that "neighbor" the home county.

When an Illinois '''eloping''' couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places like [[Lake County, Indiana Genealogy|Crown Point, IN]], or [[St. Joseph County, Indiana Genealogy|South Bend, IN]], or [[Vanderburgh County, Indiana Genealogy|Evansville, IN]], or [[Lee County, Iowa]].<ref name="Eakle1">Arlene H. Eakle, "Have you searched and searched for a marriage without finding it?" in ''Genealogy Blog'' at [http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/have-you-searched-and-searched-for-the-marriage-without-finding-it/ http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/have-you-searched-and-searched-for-the-marriage-without-finding-it/] accessed 8 January 2011).</ref> Also check counties that "neighbor" the home county.

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To see a coverage map of FamilySearch's holdings of Illinois marriages, click [http://user.xmission.com/~jsvare/FR/IL_FRM.html here].

=== Death Records ===

=== Death Records ===

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**deaths to 1956

**deaths to 1956

**browsable images, with indexes in some volumes

**browsable images, with indexes in some volumes

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To see a coverage map of FamilySearch's holdings of Illinois county death records, click [http://user.xmission.com/~jsvare/FR/IL_FRD.html here].

Some Illinois Vital Records are indexed and can be searched online at sites including the Illinois State Archives, FamilySearch, . After locating a person in an index always consult the original record to confirm the information in the index.

1843 Legislation, a parent could report a birth to the county. However, very few births were recorded in only a few scattered counties.

1877 The State Board of Health required all births be reported to the county clerk, although many were not reported because compliance was not enforced. [1]

1916 Statewide registration of vital statistics began in 1916 and was generally complied with by 1922.

These usually give the name and sex of the child; the names, birthplaces, and ages of the parents (with the mother’s maiden name); the occupation of the father; and the number of children born to the mother.

Birth records of adopted children may give the birth parents but have frequently been amended to show only the adoptive parents.

Delayed registrations of births were made when the individual applied, usually as an adult. An advantage is that they had to provide evidence to support the birth, which often included the testimony of a close relative or a church or Bible record.

Several types of marriage records were kept, although sometimes only one type of marriage record was preserved or filmed:

Marriage registers before 1877 provide the date of marriage, names of the bride and groom, and the person who performed the marriage. Starting in 1877, pre-printed marriage register books in Illinois provided columns for ages, residences, birth places, and sometimes the names of the parents or guardians of the bride and groom.

Marriage returns were reported by the minister or Justice of the Peace who performed the marriage. County histories or city directories can be checked to learn which religion and congregation a minister served. Ministers’ returns may reveal that the marriage took place in a private residence, often the home of a parent or relative.

Marriage licenses or applications couples were not required to obtain a marriage license until 1877.

The counties continue to record marriages to the present day and only county clerks can issue certified copies of the marriage certificate.

A statewide register of marriages was started on 1 January 1962 as county clerks forwarded marriage information to the Illinois Department of Public Health. For a fee, the Division of Vital Records can search their statewide register and provide the marriage date and county for couples married after 1962.

Sources include original county clerks' marriage records and publications of county genealogical societies and private individuals.

Index created by volunteer in their homes and by Archives staff.

Provides groom, bride, date and county as well as information for contacting the county for a copy of the record.

Ongoing effort; as of March 2012 90 of the 98 counties are complete, 4 not started. If you don't locate your ancestor's marriage in the index, check the Counties/Date Spans page to see which counties and which timeframes are included.

Get copies of records from IRAD (can request by phone and receive records within approximately one week at a cost of $1/page) or via the county clerk in the county where the marriage occurred. It is generally faster, easier, and cheaper to obtain records from IRAD.

Requirements include: decedent's full name, date of death, city and county where death occurred (if known), your relationship to the decedent, reasons for requesting record and a legible/readable copy of your valid photo identification card.

A genealogical copy is less expensive than a certified copy.

The "Tips" section at the bottom of their webpage mentions misspellings, incorrect data, erroneous entries, and that some 1936 deaths are listed as occurring in 1935.

Fetal Deaths
Parents can request a copy of a "Certificate of Birth Resulting in a Stillbirth." A "Fetal Death Certificate" is issued and you must have a direct connection to the fetus, or written authorization from a family member[8]

Death Records reveal

Yes or Maybe ⇒

Y

M

Name of Deceased

Death Date and Place

Age or Birth Date and Place

Parent's Names

Mother's Maiden Name

Name of Spouse

Residence

Occupation

Earlier records may give less detail

Death Records Timeline

1843 Legislation, members of a family could report a death to the county. However, very few deaths were recorded and only a few scattered counties have incomplete records.

1877 The State Board of Health required all deaths to be reported to the county clerk, although many were not reported because compliance was not enforced.[9]

1916 death records were mandated by the state with copies sent to the state capital. Compliance to this law reached 95% by 1919.[10]

These may give additional information, such as the city or town of birth, the informant (who may be a close relative), and the length of residence in the state or county.

Sometimes burial information, the cause of death, and the names of the physician and mortician are provided.

In the early 1800s, the legislature, the circuit courts, and city courts granted divorces. Illinois divorce records may indicate the date and place the marriage was dissolved. Circuit or city courts have handled most divorce proceedings. The Superior Court of Cook County in Chicago also has jurisdiction over divorces.

As of 11 November 2011, Illinois adoptees born before 1946 now have immediate access to their birth certificates. Those born after 1 Jan 1946 and who are twenty-one or older may file a request to see their birth certificates. Parents of children born after 1946 must file a form if they want to keep their names confidential. If no form is filed, it is assumed that the parents will allow their names to remain on the certificate. For more information, go to the Illinois Department of Public Health website.

In many cases, children were raised by relatives or interested families without a formal adoption taking place and no official adoption records being created.

It is usually best to start a vital records search using one of the online links listed above. Original records were officially recorded in the county (except for those recorded in Chicago). Links to county pages appear in the box at the end of this article. Statewide vital records are available at the following locations:

Illinois Regional Archives Depository System (IRAD): IRAD is run by the Illinois State Archives to archive records from local governments in Illinois. There are seven depositories covering the state. Click here to see what records are available for the county you are searching.

Information listed on vital records is given by an informant. Learn the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) of the record. The closer the relationship of the informant to the subject(s) and whether or not the informant was present at the time of the event can help determine the accuracy of the information found on the record.

If you are unable to locate vital records recorded by governments, search for church records of christening, marriage, death or burial. A family Bible may have been used to record births, marriages and deaths. Other substitute records.

Privacy laws may restrict your access to some vital records. Copies of some vital records recorded in the last 100 years may be unavailable to anyone except a direct relative.

These links will take you to wiki pages describing alternate sources for birth, marriage and death records.

Church Records: Depending on the denomination, church records may contain information about birth, marriage and death.

Cemetery Records: Cemetery records are a rich source of birth and death information. These records may also reveal family relationships.

Census Records: Census records are a valuable source for birth and marriage information. You may also determine approximate time of death when the individual disappear from the census. This is a good place to begin a search.

Social Security Death Index (SSDI): The SSDI indexes deaths for those who had social security numbers and the death was reported to the Social Security Administration. Most records start in 1962.

Newspapers: Besides obituaries, local newspapers may contain birth and marriage announcements and death notices. Also check newspaper social columns for additional information.

Periodicals: Local genealogical and historical societies often publish periodicals which may contain abstracted early birth, marriage and death information.

Military Records: Military pension records can give birth, marriage and death information. In addition, soldiers' homes records can included this same information.

Probate Records: If no death record exists, probate records may be helpful in estimating when an individual has died. Probate records in the 20th Century often contain the exact death date.

History: Local histories, family histories and biographies can all be sources of birth, marriage and death information. Often this information is found in county-level records or in surname searches of the FamilySearch Catalog.

You can learn more about state and county vital records as well as the laws of Illinois affecting them in:

Schweitzer, George K. Illinois Genealogical Research. Knoxville, Tennessee: Geo. K. Schweitzer, 1997. Includes types of records, research procedures, and county listings. Available at many libraries (WorldCat); FHL book 977.3 D27s.